Wednesday, June 15, 2016

Do-It-Yourself Apple Cider Vinegar For Your Health and Enjoyment

Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) is one of those super foods that is almost too good to believe. Not only does it offer numerous health benefits but it is also very versatile around the house and for personal care. You can find out alot about ACV at this page. They will offer to sell you a book at the end of the page. I have no connections with the seller, I only link to their page because they have done a fine job of simply, summarizing the benefits of ACV. You can also do the research on your own with a simple Google search.

Would you believe me if I told you that Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) can be a delicious, refreshing and satisfying addition to your summer refreshments? I know, for most of you that have tried ACV, you are probably shaking your head thinking, "yea, right!". Sad but true that most commercial ACV is extremely acidic tasting and overly tart. Even raw, unfiltered, quality ACV such as Bragg's is missing the pleasant tasting experience.


DIY ACV is very economical. You can use the parts of the apple that would normally get thrown away.

Enter the Do-It-Yourself, home brewed ACV with very little cost or investment. It is quite easy with not much of a learning curve. If you can peel an apple and measure sugar and water you can ferment your own ACV. Most people I talk with about D.I.Y. ACV are under the misconception that they need a "mother" to create ACV. My simple response to them is "not at all". All you need is a glass jar, apple peels and cores (you can use the entire apple if you wish), sugar, water and a breathable cover for the jar (I use a paper coffee filter held in place with a rubber band. Keeps out fruit flies better). It does take time to ferment, about 4 weeks, but very little effort. I started by using this link as a reference. One of the things that I have found fermenting ACV that this web page does not mention is that as the apple peels and cores float and protrude above the surface of the water they are prone to blue-green mold. Harmless to you, but not appealing. I have a small glass dish that just fits inside the opening of my gallon jar which is heavy enough to hold all apple solids under the surface of the liquid but not so heavy that it sinks. This has prevented the development of mold on my future batches.

We started fermenting by the quart but found that we drank it too fast to keep up and now my family ferments it by the gallon jar usually yielding about 3 quarts. It is delicious! It taste more like tangy cider than vinegar. I actually did a pH test on my first couple batches of ACV to see if it was similar to commercial, raw ACVsuch as Bragg's. My home fermented ACV pH tested at the same or slightly stronger acid pH than the Bragg's ACV, telling me that I actually did have Apple Cider Vinegar.

Most ACV pages will recommend 1-2 tablespoons of ACV per day to help with health. It can be taken straight or diluted in water. My family actually enjoys adding ACV to a glass of fruit juice, giving it a bit of a kick. Another great way to enjoy ACV, especially during the summer is to make Switchel. Switchel, or as it was often referred to "haymaker's punch" is as old as the colonies. A very refreshing, energizing drink and an excellent electrolyte restorer. No more sugary, caffeinated sport drinks.

Have a safe and healthy summer.

Yours for better health,

Dr. Heller

Wednesday, June 8, 2016

Non-Drug Pain Management is a Safer Strategy than Opioids

An estimated 126.6 million Americans (one in two adults) are affected by a neuro-musculoskeletal condition. When these conditions become chronic and over the counter analgesics (pain relievers) no longer control the pain a prescription is often given for opioid pain relievers.

There are no randomized control trials that have shown opioids to improve function, and there is an overriding national public health concern regarding widespread abuse and misuse of these drugs. The list below are the most common ones prescribed:

Fiorional with Codeine Robitussin A-C Tylenol with Codeine

Empirin with Codeine Roxanol Duramorph

Demerol Actiq Duragesic

Sublimaze OxyContin Percodan

Percocet Tylox Dilaudid

Rather than putting your health at risk to opioid side effects safer options to eliminate the cause of the pain should be sought. Chiropractic can help with most common complaints of musculoskeletal origin. A short report can be downloaded from this page, giving you a wealth of research referenced information on opioids, pain management and chiropractic.

Or you can download it directly from:

Download ‘Chiropractic: A Safer Strategy Than Opioids’

As primary care professionals for spinal health and well-being, doctors of chiropractic – who receive a minimum of seven years of higher education – are specifically trained to diagnose, evaluate and provide non-pharmaceutical care and rehabilitation to individuals suffering from acute and chronic back, low back and neck pain, headaches, neuro-musculoskeletal and other related conditions.

Poor Posture: An Unknown Threat

An Unknown Threat: What Poor Posture May Be Doing to Your Body

Sit Up Straight! Poor Posture Can Affect Your Body

Feeling tense and achy? It may be due to poor posture.

While the media is touting warnings about “tech neck” — the neck pain and damage sustained from hunching over smartphones and other devices for too long —

you’re actually risking harm to your overall health if any other body part becomes

misaligned.

That’s because, as the American Journal of Pain Management notes, a person’s

posture affects and moderates every physiological function from breathing to hormonal production.

Yes, every physiological function.

How, you may ask? “Our muscles and ligaments routinely work to balance us as

we sit, stand, bend, and sleep,” says Sherry McAllister, DC, executive vice president

For every additional degree of imbalance of the posture,
the body must work harder against the effects of gravity.

of the not-for-profit Foundation for Chiropractic Progress. “Over time, however, uneven stress causes the body to adapt and change — subsequently, causing aches and pains.”

Various factors can contribute to poor posture — including injury, stress, obesity,

pregnancy, and weak postural muscles. Chiropractors have been specifically trained, as part of their minimum seven years of higher education, to provide drug-free, hands-on care that helps to naturally align and strengthen the spine, as well as advise on healthy lifestyle habits.

And as far as habits go, in keeping with National Correct Posture Month, the Foundation for Chiropractic Progress is out with tips designed to help you develop smart ways to perfect your posture. Among them:

• Maintain a neutral spine. Meaning, chin up and shoulders pulled back.

• Avoid extended time spent with your head flexed forward.

• Don’t cross your legs while seated.

Check out our Facebook banner and see examples of what we can do for your posture with Advanced BioStructural CorrectionTM at David City Chiropractic

Chirpractic Care For All Over Better Health

Most everyone thinks of chiropractic for the care of back or neck pain. Some may turn to chiropractic for sport and leisure activity injuries. Truth be told the benefits of regular chiropractic care are so far reaching is is one of the best kept secrets of the healthcare world.

Even our friends at TTAC understand how chiropractic helps the body function better to be healthier.

Check out the link below.

10 Reasons You Should Consider Chiropractic Therapy

Wednesday, April 13, 2016

Children, Car Seats and Spinal Health

Parents often ask Chiropractors when car seats should be turned to face forward. Remarkable research on this issue helps parents make an informed decision that will best serve their family. Safety concerns led to the evolution of rear-facing car seats. Motor vehicle collisions typically take place withthe vehicle moving forward. The mechanism of this type of accident forces the head and neck of all passengers forward toward the windshield of the vehicle in a quick, jerking movement. The majority of injuries occur as the neck snaps backwards after the initial jolt toward the windshield. Any precaution that minimizes the forward-back jerking motion of the neck as a result of the collision will help lower the severity or prevent any significant bone and soft tissue injuries.

Research shows that the strength and stability of neck alignment and soft tissue will determine the extent of injury. Rear-facing car seats provide stability for an infant’s neck and soft tissue when the muscles and ligaments are not yet fully developed. An infant’s neck, spine, and muscles eventually develop to the point of being able to withstand the majority of trauma from a motor vehicle accident.

Research done in 2007 showed the inaccuracy of previous standards that allowed infants to be turned towards the front of a car after one year of age and a weight of at least 20 pounds. The study states that children up to 23 months old are almost 75 percent less likely to die or sustain serious injury in a rear-facing car seat than a forward-facing one. A rear-facing seat spreads the force exerted on a child's body during a crash more evenly across the entire body, limiting the motion of the head and reducing the potential for neck injury. The protective car seat also keeps the child more contained within the shell of the child restraint than a forward-facing seat. The benefits of a rear-facing car seat rated particularly high in side impact crashes as well.

The American Academy of Pediatrics and many child-passenger safety advocates expanded their recommendations to suggest that infants and young children should remain rear-facing until at least 23 months of age and a weight of at least 35 pounds. Infants and children routinely experience significant stress without ever experiencing a motor vehicle accident. Traumas from birth, falls, accidents, and learning to walk produce enough stress on the spine and nervous system to require regular Chiropractic spinal evaluations for all children. Chiropractors focus on caring for the spine and central nervous system through spinal adjustments and education. Proper car seat safety continues to be one of many important topics that help prevent unwanted spine and nervous system problems for infants and toddlers. Regular Chiropractic care helps infants and children achieve and maintain proper spine and nervous system health throughout life. Waiting to use a front-facing car seat protects the safety and well-being of a child, but not waiting to begin Chiropractic care ensures that every child will be given optimal chance to grow and develop a healthy brain, spine, and body.

Journal of Injury Prevention
2007 Dec; 13(6): 398–402
"Car safety seats for children: rear facing for best protection"
B Henary, C P Sherwood, J R Crandall, R W Kent, F E Vaca, K B Arbogast, and M J Bull

Thursday, June 5, 2014

Reality of Chiropractic

Symptoms are often just the "tip of the iceberg". Many people choose to take a pill to suppress the symptoms and think that they no longer have a problem. Remember it was not the part of the iceberg that was visible that sank the Titanic. Let Chiropractic help keep you functioning and feeling your best.